Five-minute craft project that can improve your photos instantly

For good color reproduction and easier post-processing with image-editing programs, it can be very helpful to have something in your photo that is known to be pure white, pure black and middle gray.

Color charts, gray cards and other similar products are great, but they can be expensive, they have to be placed at certain angles, and they fade over time. My solution avoids both problems because the spherical shape and arrangment of the reference patches virtually guarantees you’ll have a white point, black point, and gray point reference from just about any angle, and if you need more, just print them out.

Download, print and tape together these paper "balls" and get reasonably accurate black point, white point, and gray point references in your scene.

Getting crisp screen shot images into MS Word

The problem: When an otherwise crisp screen-shot image is placed into Word, it appears fuzzy when viewed on the screen at 100% magnification.

The Reason: The pixels in the screen-shot image do not correspond on a 1:1 basis to the current display pixels. By default, Word uses the physical image dimensions (size in inches) and not the image's resolution to determine the size the image when it is placed in the page. If the resolution of the image does not match the resolution of the system'’s display settings, the image is "“interpolated"”, resulting in the image appearing fuzzy. This problem does not occur when printing out a document as long as the resolution of the printer is high enough to be able to render each pixel in the screen shot image.

A note about other display settings: If the current display is set to 120 ppi ("“Large Fonts"”), screen capture images must also be set to 120 ppi in order to appear crisp. This means that if a screen-capture image is set to 96 ppi and imported into a Word document on a system where the display is also 96 ppi, the screen-shot image will look fine. If that same document is then viewed on a 120 ppi system, the screen shots will appear fuzzy. This is a problem if the document is to be viewed on systems with different display settings

The Solution: The resolution of the screen-shot image must match the resolution of the current display in order for the pixels in the screen shot to be rendered at a 1:1 ratio and appear crisp.

The following procedures assume all applicable systems are running Windows 2000 or XP, and all display properties are set to 96 ppi (Windows default).

Note: Photoshop and Windows both refer to ppi as dpi. Ppi and dpi can be considered one and the same for this procedure.

Creating the screen capture file

Using Adobe Photoshop and other "higher-end" applications

  1. Determine the maximum width of the image in pixels:
    Multiply the width of the area in your document that is to receive the image by the current ppi, in this case: 96.
  2. Open app where screenshot is to be taken.
  3. Open Photoshop
  4. Capture the window or screen:
    A screen capture utility that displays the area captured in pixels (like Moodysoft's SPX Instant Screen Capturpreferredfereed. Size your capture area to be equal-to or less than the number from step 1. If using Windows to capture the active window, hold down the ALT key and hit the PrintScrn key. To capture the entire screen, use PrintScrn without holding the ALT key down.
  5. In Photoshop create a new file (the pixel dimensions and resolution should already be filled in on the New File dialog).
  6. Paste from clipboard into new Photoshop document.
  7. Verify 96 ppi and file size: Under the Image menu, choose "Image Size". If not 96 dpi, make sure "“Resample Image"” is NOT checked, and change the resolution to 96 dpi.
  8. Flatten image (Layers palette > popup menu > "Flatten Image"
  9. (Optional) Reduce color depth to 8-bit (256 colors). This will result in a smaller file size.
  10. Save the image:
    Use the Save As menu and select the appropriate format. Use BMP if the image is full-color: (16 or 24-bit), choose BMP or GIF if the image is 256 colors or less.

Using MS-Paint

  1. Make sure 96 dpi is set in Display Control panel or right-click on desktop: Settings tab/Advanced...
  2. Open app where screen shot is to be taken.
  3. To capture the active window, use the ALT and PrintScrn keys as above. To capture the entire screen, use PrintScrn without holding the ALT key down.
  4. Open MS Paint.
  5. Paste into MS Paint.
  6. Save image. Note: reducing color depth to 8-bit (256 colors) will result in a smaller file size.

Getting the file into Word

  1. Open Word.
  2. Place image in Word: (Insert menu/Picture/From File).
  3. Right-click on the image and select "Format Image"
  4. Verify image scaling is 100%:
    On the Size tab of the Format Picture... dialog, verify scaling is 100%. If the image at 100% is too large to fit the line width of your document, either decrease the margin widths of your document, or crop the image to fit the space.
  5. The important thing is to always make sure your screen capture image never gets “interpolated"

Top web-based image gallery software

Getting your best pictures on the web can be very simple or very complex. It depends upon how much work you want to to. Generally the more work you are wiling to do yourself, the more options you have for appearance and functionality.

My experience is mostly with stand-alone software for Windows computers and that is the focus here. If you just want to get your images up on the web, and already have access to a web site and/or web server, these tools are well worth a look.

Stand-alone applications

Most of the stand-alone applications offer a semi-automated web-gallery generation as a secondary product feature. Some are specifically designed to generate HTML galleries and offer additional options layout schemes and features. Prices of the following options range from free (no adware, spyware or viruses), to over $500.

All of these programs generate a self-contained group of files and folders which you upload to and existing web server.

ACDSee 8
This well-known and well-developed image viewer/organizer/processor from ACD Systems includes a number of basic templates and options for generating web browser-based galleries. You simply select a series of images from one or more directories, or from several other methods of grouping images, make a few settings and the program does the rest. The few web-gallery templates included with the program are pretty basic, offer little control over appearance, but get the job done.

Pros: It's easy to create a basic web gallery with a few mouse clicks.

Cons: Most of the few included templates make use of html frames which are generally discouraged in the creation of web pages.

Breeze Browser Pro
Breeze Browser Pro from Breeze Systems is an image viewer/raw conversion application that includes a number of user-customizable templates, one of which has built-in PayPal buttons for setting up a purchasing system. All you need is a PayPal account and a little HTML knowledge. Breeze Browser Pro can also convert raw images, rotate and crop images with no loss of quality, and can produce high quality contact sheets.

Pros: More web templates than most similar programs, user-customizable with some html knowledge, easy to set up image purchasing (with a PayPal account), allows visual watermarking of images.

Cons: Templates can really only be significantly customized by editing the HTML.

JAlbum
JAlbum is a free Java-based HTML web gallery program. It's sole purpose is to make it easy to generate a web gallery with some reasonably advanced features like a slide show in addition to a gallery style layout.

Pros: It's free. It just does HTML or CD-ROM galleries, lots of options, nice looking templates, does not require Java for viewing web galleries.

Cons: Requires Java Runtime Environment or Java SDK (easy to install) for creating galleries. Customization of templates or "skins" may be to complex for most.

Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
Both Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements have a Web Photo Gallery of many styles where you can pick a few other options, choose a folder of images, and it does the rest. It's fairly simple to do and doesn't require any special knowledge of web programming or html. Several of the templates include email-based viewer feedback.

Pros: Built into Photoshop and Photoshop Elements already, nice-looking templates.

Cons: Expensive if you don't already own Photoshop, user cannot modify existing templates.

Blogs

Information on photo-oriented blogging services and other resources can be found at Photoblogs.org and on wikipedia.org.

Free imaging and graphics web tools and resources

"Free" still means you might have to register or sign up and provide an email address but no credit card information is required. Some applications are open-source. All of the appications listed here are fully functional with no time or usage limitations. All the non-web-oriented applications are for Windows. None of these applications contain viruses, adware or spyware although some may feature visible advertisements.

Graphics Utilities (Stand-Alone and Web-Based)

Pixel Color Pickers

  • ColorPic
    Pick up the colors of individual pixels and palettes of up to 16 colors at once and use four advanced color mixers. Copy and paste RGB and HEX values.
  • ColorPix
    Grab the pixel under your mouse and transform it into a number of different color formats. Small and fast. Copy RGB and HEX values.
  • ColorZilla
    Advanced Eyedropper, ColorPicker, Page Zoomer for Mozilla Firefox. Get a color reading from any point in your browser, quickly adjust this color and paste it into another program. The built-in palette browser allows choosing colors from pre-defined color sets and saving the most used colors in custom palettes.

Web-Based Color Referencers, Converters and Schemers

  • ColorSchemer.com
    Web-based color conversion/scheming utility. Also offers several downloadable stand-alone applications.
  • EasyRGB.com
    RGB-to-HEX conversion, color harmonies, monitor calibration and other utilities.

Screen Capture

  • FastStone Image Viewer
    Screen-capture and much more. Basic image editing, file browsing, slide-shows, email. Free for non-commercial and educational use.
  • XnView
    Also view and convert graphic files, supports more than 400 graphics formats.

Paint and Photo-Editing (raster-based)

  • Paint.net
    Image and photo manipulation software for Windows 2000, XP, or Server 2003. Basic Photoshop-like tools, reasonably sophisticated. Requires DotNet Framework 1.1.
  • The Gimp
    A freely-distributable open-source image manipulation application for photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages. Requires download and install of "GTK+ 2 for Windows" which is provided on the Gimp download site.
  • Serif PhotoPlus 6
    This previous version of Serif PhotoPlus is available for free although you must register to recive an unlocking code.

Drawing (vector-based)

  • Inkscape
    An open-source drawing tool with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, and CorelDraw.
  • Serif DrawPlus 4
    This previous version or Serif DrawPlus is available for free (requires a sign-up process for unlocking)
  • Sodipodi
    A general vector illustrating application for Linux/Unix and Windows. It uses W3C SVG as a native file format.

Image Organizing/Viewing

  • FastStone Image Viewer
    Basic image editing, file browsing, slide-shows, screen-capture, email. Free (sign-up) for non-commercial and educational use. Commercial version is $40.
  • Google Picasa
    Basic image touch-up, image organizing/tagging, file browsing, slide-shows, email. An all-in-one solution for managing and viewing photos on a computer.
  • XnView
    View and convert graphic files, support of more than 400 graphics formats.

Improve your photographic technique in 10 minutes

Prerequisites

In order to really take control of your photography, you must be able to control the following camera functions:

  • Lens aperture
  • Shutter speed
  • Change the ISO setting
  • Focus
  • Flash on or off

Additional capabilities that are good to have:

  • The ability to connect an external flash unit and control it's direction
  • Interchangeable lenses

Take control of your lighting

Taking control of how light affects your photographs is probably the most important thing you can do. Many people are so concerned with keeping everything in focus that control of light is often forgotten.

Here are 7 ways to help you gain control of lighting:

  • Use natural lighting as often as possible.
  • Strong lighting from one side of your subject generally provides the most pleasing effect.
  • Morning and afternoon light are generally the best times to photograph outdoors.
  • Avoid using your flash as the main source of light.
  • Use your flash as fill-light when photographing strongly back-lit subjects.
  • Bounce your flash off of a white surface, wall or ceiling.

Keep your subject sharp

Lighting is key, and creativity is king, but in most cases, your main subject should also be in focus.

Here are 6 ways to get a handle on focus:

  • If your camera has auto-focus: Allow the camera to establish focus before taking your picture.
  • If your camera has auto-focus: Set the camera to use a single AF point, then activate the AF-lock on your main subject, and recompose the shot without changing focus. This works well as long as the subject you focus on and the subject you actually photograph are about the same distance from the camera.
  • For AF or MF: Use shorter shutter speeds to minimize the blurring effects of camera-movement when not using a tripod. Set a higher ISO. Use caution when setting higher ISO's on non-SLR digital cameras. Noise "grain" can become a problem at higher ISO's with these cameras.
  • Generally, the slowest shutter speed you should use is close to the focal length of the lens you’re using. With a 50mm lens, for example, try not to use shutter speeds no slower than 1/60 of a second.
  • Brace yourself whenever possible. You might look strange while doing it, but the shot may be worth the moment of indignity.
  • Use DOF preview or a DOF scale more often if you can. A greater depth of field will ensure more of your scene will be in focus.

Choose a good subject

Your subject can be just anything that strikes your fancy, but there are some good habits to form when choosing subjects.

Here are 7 ways to improve your subject matter appeal:

  • Know your subject
  • Get close
  • Tell a story

For people and animals:

  • People and pets generally look best in candid photos when they are not posed.
  • Make sure eyes are in focus.
  • Take pictures at your subject’s eye-level.
  • Include meaningful objects and symbolic elements and show your subjects doing things they enjoy in places where they are comfortable.

Make an interesting composition

There are rules. Some rules have good reasoning behind them and have been used by great artists for hundreds of years. Some rules are meant to be broken.

Here are 8 tips of composition that can help you make a meaningful composition by controlling subject placement, balance and counterpoint:

  • Use the "Rule of Thirds." Conceptually divide your composition into nine equal sections, place your main subject at or near one of the four intersections of the lines that separate the thirds.
  • Explore relationships of perspective and scale.
  • Explore relationships of contrast, light and shadow.
  • Explore relationships of color and value.
  • Explore relationships of texture, patterns, shape and form.
  • Be aware of foreground, middle ground and background. Avoid elements that interfere with your intended subject.

Practice makes perfect sense

Get out and take pictures. It’s the best way to improve your technique and develop your style.

Better pictures right now with your point-and-shoot digital camera

Your point-and-shoot/grab-and-snap camera may be small and easy to use, but that doesn't mean you can't get great-looking photos with it.

Here are some basic techniques you can use right now to get better pictures. Most of these techniques apply equally to both film and digital cameras.

Steady yourself, point, and shoot with a purpose.

Hold still and/or brace yourself when you take the picture. You will minimize the possibility of camera movement blur and be more thoughtful about your pictures.

Try to control what the camera is focusing on

You probably don't have any manual control over focus with your pocket camera. You can usually get the camera to focus on a subject with the shutter button pressed down half-way, with the shutter button still pressed half-way down, recompose your shot and take it. This works well as long as the subject you focus on and the subject you actually photograph are about the same distance from the camera. Many cameras focus on the closest object to the lens. This may not be your intended point of focus. This technique can be used almost as effectively as having manual focus.

Place your subject off-center.

An off-center subject can add interest to your photo.

Make an "artistic" composition.

Ask yourself if what you see in the viewfinder would make a nice framed picture, or ignore what the subject looks like. What does it "feel" like?

Use fill flash when photographing back-lit scenes.

If you can, set your flash to fire even if there seems to be enough light (from behind). By using fill-in flash, your subjects' faces (or other elements) will be illuminated nicely instead of being in deep shadow.

Take several shots of the same subject.

You may discover the best shot is not the one you expected it to be.

Try different angles and perspectives. Try both vertical and horizontal orientations. You are more likely to get a great shot of a particular subject if you photograph it more than once. Over time, in this way, you will also learn what works for you and what you like.

Use other shooting modes.

If your camera offers alternatives to "full auto", go ahead, use them. They are there to help you make better photos.

Level the camera when the horizon is in your shot.

Sometimes holding the camera at an odd angle is a good thing, sometimes it's not. Generally, photos that include the horizon look best when the horizon is parallel with the edges of your photo.

Watch those fingers and straps!

Make sure your fingers and camera strap are not in front of the lens, flash, or other windows and sensors on the front of the camera. Practice holding the camera like it says in the manual.

Carry it with you.

Take your camera with you wherever you go. It's small enough. You may go weeks without taking a single picture, but one day you will thank yourself for remembering to throw that P&S camera in your day pack or briefcase.

Take more pictures

Shoot more pictures, the practice will only make you better.


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